Lens recommendations for city break please

[wooster]

Hi

I'm off to Bruges for a weekend soon and I was considering my lens choices. I would like to have some festive shots of skating, street life, ice sculptures, buildings and lights: the usual stuff.

I have the 24-105 f4 IS which is nice and a great all rounder but I'm guessing I will want a fair few low light shots of the lights etc. I also have a 24-70 f2.8 ( mk1) but no IS. I also have a 50mm f1.4 which is only really up to scratch from f2 onwards.

While the 50mm will be useful I'm wondering if a wider lens might be of benefit and I'm considering buying either the 35mm f2 IS or the 24mm f2.8. IS.

Of the two I reckon the 35mm would be more useful to me for environmental portraiture but two disadvantages spring to mind:

1.It is pretty close to the 50mm ( though still enough of a difference to be useful I'd say )

2. It's only advantage would be the speed because IQ is pretty similar to the 24-105 at that focal length at f4. While it seems it is better than the 24-70 at 35mm it's not enough to buy it for that reason alone.

The 24mm is significantly better IQ than the 24-105 at 24mm and is quite a radical difference from the 50mm I already have.

To summarise. The 35mm seems the most versatile in terms of using it for environmental stuff but is close to the 50mm in use. The 24mm is an improvement in IQ but might be of limited use.

I'm stuck between the two. Or should I just take my 24-105 with my 50mm for the dark and be happy? Is it really worth buying anything else. If so which focal length would be best.

[Black Pearl]

For me I'd go with the 24-105mm f4 with the IS. You gain one stop with the 24-70mm f2.8 but you could still run the serious risk of camera shake that the (although its f4) stabilised lens might just rescue.
Bung the 50mm in your pocket as its small and the very shallow DoF can be really fun at night with street lights and festive lights all puffed out (you know what I mean - all big and blurry) behind your subjects. The trick is not to get enchanted by the bokeh and end up with too many similar shots.

[wooster]

Hi Robin. Thanks for the advice. I won't be taking the 24-70 for the reason you mention. I will certainly take the 24-105 and I imagine I will get good use from it.

I'm just not sure whether to get another fast wide prime in the guise of either the 24 or 35 I mention.

[Black Pearl]

I feel your pain.

Personally I don't think the very slight increase in real word IQ you'd get from a 24mm or 35mm prime over your current L glass would be worth it.

I'm guessing you're shooting with a FF Canon so a 35mm would be a tradition length for street shooting. It has long been a favourite with street photographers for the natural feel it can produce in an image. Again though you're only gaining 1 stop over your 24-105mm so is the cost really worth while?

I do love the idea of a new lens to play with and that alone could swing it if the cash is burning a hole but I'm not sure I could hand on heart recommend you buy one.

[wooster]

I do love the idea of a new lens to play with and that alone could swing it if the cash is burning a hole.

I suspect you've put your finger on the nub there

But I should show some restraint I know

[bambleweeney]

Bruges is really lovely (I think they put it in Belgium by mistake ). Great for street scenes, architecture and close ups, I'd certainly go with Robin's selection which will give you a lot of choice of focal lengths. Beware though it's also a really good place for eating and drinking so you may be taking less shots than you imagined.

[Polar01]

Instead of going out and buying something why not hire a lens or two to see what would work best in the future. If me I would like the Zeiss T28f/2.0 as a prime fits between that jump between 24mm and 35mm a great lens for almost anything.

Cheers: Allan

[wooster]

Thanks people. I know pretty much how I get on with the focal lengths mentioned. I have zooms that cover all this range. I won't take the 24-70 with me as stated above and I am really tempted by the 35mm because it would be 2 stops faster than the f4 zoom I will be taking. It's a pretty good general purpose focal length and would serve me well here too. I like the idea of having the extra stop and the better IQ but I'm aware that maybe I just feel like buying it

[RustBeltRaw]

...I'm aware that maybe I just feel like buying it

That's fine, as long as you admit it.

For city work, I like something in the 24-32mm range. Currently, the Canon EF 20mm f2.8 USM (32mm on 1.6x crop) is a favorite, though the quality isn't stellar. A 35mm f2.0 is definitely on my wish list, and plenty of people are cranking out stellar work with that lens (or equivalent). I think the EF 28mm f2.8 IS USM is an interesting option, but I've never used one.

[wooster]

Thanks for your replies. I reckon the 35mm would be more useful to me than my 50mm but I'm sure the latter would be quite adequate. But.... but.... I really fancy the 35mm